The idea of low seating isn't new — it has long existed in such cultures as Japan. It also has proved popular in Western furniture choices at different times and places, particularly in the 1950s and '60s with that era's midcentury modern designs and in trendsetting furniture centers like Italy. Or, picture one of those 1970s interiors you've been grooving on lately. That's right — slouchy, low-slung sofas were definitely part of the look.

Well, keeping things low is back in a big (but not tall) way. Some pundits say the renewed popularity is because of hit TV shows with period decor, such as "Mad Men," and shelter magazines with a modern vibe, like "Dwell." Time also works magic after enough years — baby boomers who grew up with these furnishings now feel nostalgic about the look and seek its comforting return, says New York-based designer Andrew Suvalsky. Nicole Sassaman, a designer based in Beverly Hills, Calif., agrees. "Every 20 years or so, fashion and furnishings styles re-emerge," she says.

Bryght

A sofa from Bryght with a slightly more traditional bent still keeps things low.

A sofa from Bryght with a slightly more traditional bent still keeps things low. (Bryght)

In addition, many in the millennial generation have "rediscovered" and even claim the style as their own for its hipness and loungey style that's suitable for sprawling out, she says. In smaller, urban dwellings, it also works well, says Chicago designer Tom Segal of Kaufman-Segal Design, who sees its biggest proliferation in urban centers like Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Miami. And for young families, there's yet another reason: The low sofas are easy for children to climb up on, says Bobby Berk, founder of Berk Home in Los Angeles, whose furniture line for Joybird will be launched this summer.

For almost any age group, low seating can be a universal mixer with other styles, says Boston-based designer Tiffany LeBlanc, who uses it "everywhere — in dens as sectionals and as a great family option, since nobody then has to sit in a middle seat with a crack. It's almost more of a bed," she says.

With its enhanced popularity, there has been a corresponding rise in sources and at different price points: big retailers like West Elm and Restoration Hardware's new modern division, RH Modern, online sites such as AllModern, and new upstart manufacturers, like Edgar Blazona's BenchMade Modern and True Modern, based in San Francisco. Berk likes to pull together several low modular seats without arms or just one arm, and upholster them in different fabrics to break up a long length of seating.

Grey Crawford / Nicole Sassaman

A pair of low-slung sofas perfectly frame the view in this interior by designer Nicole Sassaman.

Deciding if a low sofa and other low seating works for you, along with which tables, lighting and even artwork to mix together, and how they all work in the context of a home's entire decor, requires thoughtful pairing, as our experts advise:

First, decide if a low height is right for your lifestyle. Some boomers and their elders and even younger buyers with knee or back problems may find it hard to get down to the lower height and then get up, says Blazona. His firm prefers not to go lower than 14 inches from floor to the top of the seat for that reason. "If lower, it's almost like sitting on a yoga mat," he says.

Determine if the look appeals. These lower-height items suggest a more loungey, casual feeling. If your design wish is proper and fancy (think "Downton Abbey"), taller heights with higher backs, fatter cushions, bigger arms and even more regal legs may be a much better match.

Pick the right upholstery. Blazona suggests softer materials with a pared-down aesthetic. Sassaman agrees and favors low-pile chenilles that almost feel and look like linen but are softer.

Assemble the right-sized grouping. Heights don't have to be identical or matchy-matchy, which can look so boring and almost thematic, cautions LeBlanc. "You don't have to be too strict or literal," she says. But it's best if most of the choices share somewhat similar low profiles for visual cohesiveness, as well as for people to converse freely and be able to set down a drink, says Segal. For this reason, Blazona says, many homeowners gravitate to pieces inspired by classics like Eames' elliptical or surfboard table. In her own home, where she has a 16-inch-high couch, Sassaman added a B&B Italia coffee table at 16 inches, 14-inch high Flexform chairs and a 16-inch-high pouf.

Tiffany LeBlanc images / LeBlanc Design

Designer Tiffany LeBlanc uses low seating everywhere but says the pieces lend themselves to the kind of sprawl often found in family rooms.

Designer Tiffany LeBlanc uses low seating everywhere but says the pieces lend themselves to the kind of sprawl often found in family rooms. (Tiffany LeBlanc images / LeBlanc Design)

Pull together the right background choices. For a rug, consider a textured Flokati or shag rug that harks back to the '60s and '70s, which will soften the space and allow for floor seating, says Sassaman. LeBlanc often suggests sisal flooring with an antique rug on top for a more curated approach. And for lighting, Berk likes to bring in low-hanging pendants that drop down to the sofa's level, as well as some taller vases that add important visual height.

Hang art properly in the room. Large art over a sofa or a sofa placed away from a wall and art hung gallery-style work well and blurs lines between what's low and high, Segal says. LeBlanc uses a general rule of thumb, hanging the center of the art at the place where an eye usually goes naturally, often 54 inches above the floor.

Think about adjoining rooms. You don't have to have an entire house furnished with low pieces or even an adjoining space, these experts say. Rooms can stand on their own.

Tap into the increasing number of resources. Check out offerings at all price points before you choose — CB2, Bryght, GusModern, SchoolHouse Electric and Supply Co., Poliform USA, B&B Italia and Minotti are just a few cited by our pros.

And while trends come and go, the good news is that many experts, like Sassaman, predict the low streamlined look will appeal for years to come, or at least as part of the current 20-year cycle!

A version of this article appeared in print on May 08, 2016, in the Life+Style section of the Chicago Tribune with the headline "The rise of low seating - Dive into a sofa or armchair that rides the current style trend hitting new lows" —
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